Winter storm upgraded to blizzard

The National Weather service is advising people to stay safe, stay off the roads, stay inside.

The forecasters have upgraded the winter storm warning to a blizzard warning for eastern Kansas and western Missouri until 6 p.m. Friday.

The forecasters state that travel will be extremely dangerous through the overnight hours and into Friday morning. They expect visibility to be reduced to less than a quarter mile in some areas or possibly whiteout conditions.

They advise anyone who must travel to have a winter survival kit with them and if hey become stranded to stay with their vehicle.

Officials with the Kansas Department of Transportation are also discouraging travel for the holidays stating travel will be dangerous to nearly impossible throughout all of northeast Kansas.

Forecasters state the light rain has begun to change into freezing rain, sleet and snow.

Total sleet and snowfall accumulations through Friday afternoon may be in the 5- to 8-inch range.

Accompanying the precipitation, strong northwest to west winds will develop this afternoon and continue through Friday with sustained winds possibly reaching 25-35 mph with wind gusts reaching 35-40 mph causing extensive blowing and drifting of snow.